Injured While Driving for Uber or Lyft: What Coverage Do You Have?
If you were injured while driving for Uber or Lyft in California, several layers of insurance may apply. Which ones depend on what the app showed at the time of the crash. The other driver’s liability policy, uninsured motorist coverage, and Proposition 22 accident benefits may all apply.
Why Your App Status Matters
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) divides rideshare activity into three periods:
- Period 1:the app is open, and you are waiting for a match.
- Period 2:you accepted a match and are heading to the passenger.
- Period 3:a passenger is in the vehicle.
Required insurance changes with each period. In Period 1, the company must provide primary liability coverage of at least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per incident, and $30,000 for property damage. In Periods 2 and 3, it must provide $1 million in primary commercial coverage.
Liability coverage generally pays for harm a driver causes to other people. It doesn’t cover your own injuries, which is why the layers below matter.
The CPUC also requires the companies to tell drivers that a personal auto policy will not provide coverage while the vehicle is used with the app.
Your personal policy will also not provide collision or comprehensive coverage from the moment you log on until you log off. Don’t assume your insurer will pay.
Disputes about trip period are common in claims by drivers injured while driving for Uber or Lyft.
An insurer may argue that you were logged off or between rides, which can change the limits that apply. App records, timestamps, and your own screenshots are often the clearest proof of what happened.
When Another Driver Caused the Crash
If another motorist caused the collision, that driver’s liability insurance is usually the first source of compensation. You can claim payment for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
California follows a pure comparative negligence rule, so you may recover even if you were partly at fault.
Your recovery is reduced by your share of responsibility. Police reports, photos, witness names, and dashcam video help establish who caused the crash. If the other driver fled the scene, see our guide to hit and run accidents.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Many Los Angeles crashes involve a driver with no insurance or too little. The CPUC requires rideshare companies to provide uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage during Period 3.
That requirement changed. Senate Bill 371, signed in October 2025 and effective January 1, 2026, lowered the required amount from $1 million to $60,000 per person and $300,000 per incident. The CPUC summary page still lists the older figure.
How this coverage applies to a driver’s own injuries depends on the policy language and your trip status. Request a copy of the policy. If an uninsured driver hits you, our resource on uninsured motorist accidents explains your options.
Proposition 22 Occupational Accident Insurance
Under Proposition 22, app-based drivers are independent contractors. Workers’ compensation generally does not apply. Instead, the companies must provide occupational accident insurance for injuries a driver suffers while online with the app.
Business and Professions Code section 7455 requires this coverage to include:
- Medical expenses, with a network that covers at least $1 million
- Disability payments equal to 66 percent of your average weekly earnings
- Death benefits for a driver’s family
Uber, for example, lists its injury protection details in the driver app’s Insurance Hub. These benefits differ from workers’ compensation, and they are limited by the policy terms.
They also have their own reporting and claim requirements. An attorney can explain how these benefits interact with a claim against another driver, including any reimbursement rights.
Damage to Your Vehicle
Since your personal policy may not cover collision or comprehensive damage while you are logged in, vehicle repairs can become a separate problem. Check what physical damage coverage the company offers for your trip period. Also review any loan or lease terms, since you may still owe payments on a damaged car.
Compensation You May Seek After Being Injured While Driving for Uber or Lyft
Depending on the source of coverage, a claim may seek payment for:
- Emergency care, hospital stays, surgery, and rehabilitation
- Future medical needs, including ongoing treatment
- Lost income and reduced earning capacity, which matters when driving is your main source of income
- Pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Vehicle repair or replacement costs
Each coverage source has its own limits and rules. Identifying them early helps you avoid leaving compensation unclaimed.
Steps to Protect Your Claim
What you do right after being injured while driving for Uber or Lyft can affect which coverage applies. These steps help preserve your rights:
- Get medical care right away. Medical records link the crash to your injuries.
- Screenshot your app status. Capture trip history, timestamps, and earnings records showing which period you were in.
- Report the crash to the company and the police. Ask for the police report number.
- Document the scene. Take photos of vehicles, damage, road conditions, and injuries.
- Save insurance information. Get the other driver’s policy details, and request your own policy and the company’s coverage documents.
- Be careful with recorded statements. Speak with an attorney before giving one to any insurer.
Time limits apply as well. California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 generally allows two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. Occupational accident benefits may have shorter reporting deadlines, so ask about them early.
Speak With a Los Angeles Rideshare Accident Lawyer
Personal Injury Legal Group represents drivers injured while driving for Uber or Lyft, as well as passengers, across Los Angeles and Southern California. We review your trip status, identify every policy that may apply, and explain how the different sources of compensation fit together.
To learn more, read about our Uber and Lyft accident attorney services or our overview of Uber and Lyft accidents in LA. To discuss your situation, call 310-445-5900 or contact our team.
